| Drivetrain |
|---|
| Drive type | Front-engine front-wheel drive |
| Engine type | Transverse-mounted, naturally aspirated direct-injected inline-4, gasoline |
| Displacement (cc/cu-in) | 2384cc (145cu-in) |
| Block/head material | Aluminum/aluminum |
| Valvetrain | DOHC, 4 valves/cyl, variable valve-timing |
| Compression ratio (x:1) | 11.7:1 |
| Redline (rpm) | None indicated (7,000 rpm fuel cut-off) |
| Horsepower (hp @ rpm) | 182 @ 6700 |
| Torque (lb-ft @ rpm) | 172 @ 4900 |
| Transmission type | 6-speed Automatic with manual-shift mode on console shifter |
| Transmission and axle ratios (x:1) | 1st = 4.58, 2nd = 2.96, 3rd = 1.91, 4th = 1.44, 5th = 1.00, 6th = 0.74, FD = 3.23, R = 2.94 |
| Chassis |
|---|
| Suspension, front | Independent, MacPherson Struts, Coil Springs, and Stabilizer Bar |
| Suspension, rear | Independent, Multi-Link, Coil Springs, Trailing Arms, and Stabilizer Bar |
| Steering type | Electric-assist speed-proportional rack-and-pinion power steering |
| Steering ratio (x:1) | 18.1:1 |
| Tire brand | Michelin |
| Tire model | Latitude Tour |
| Tire type | All season |
| Tire size, front | P225/65R17 100T (35 psi) |
| Tire size, rear | P225/65R17 100T (35 psi) |
| Wheel size | 17 X 7.5 front - 17 X 7.5 rear |
| Wheel material | Aluminum |
| Brakes, front | 12.6-inch one-piece ventilated steel rotors with 1-piston sliding calipers |
| Brakes, rear | 11.9-inch one-piece ventilated steel rotors with 1-piston sliding calipers |
| Test Driver Ratings & Comments |
|---|
| Acceleration comments | This SUV is not as embarrassingly slow as anticipated considering the 2.4L I-4 and 3,800-pound weight. Decent torque off the line with a little chirp of wheelspin. Found that manually shifting just shy of 7,000 rpm (instead of auto shifting in Drive at 6,500) netted a tenth or so improvement across the board. |
| Braking rating | Good |
| Braking comments | Good ABS tuning keeps the Equinox straight and controlled. Slight fade noted after 3rd stop, but nothing objectionable. Good results. |
| Handling rating | Poor |
| Handling comments | Skid pad: The inside front tire's lifting off the ground limited the Equinox's performance as it spun through the open differential. Decent grip, but zero steering feel. With ESC on, the throttle closed just as the limits were approached, so I essentially drove around the circle with my foot pinned to the floor. Slalom: With ESC off, the tail end gets mighty loose -- progressively but dangerously so. With ESC on, this tendency is squelched with helpful corrections that don't otherwise interfere. Again, video-gamelike steering provides no sense of grip/skid, but remains precise. |
| Dimensions & Capacities |
|---|
| Curb weight, mfr. claim (lbs.) | 3,770 |
| Curb weight, as tested (lbs.) | 3,783 |
| Weight distribution, as tested, f/r (%) | 57/43 |
| Length (in.) | 187.8 |
| Width (in.) | 72.5 |
| Height (in.) | 69.3 |
| Wheelbase (in.) | 112.5 |
| Track, front (in.) | 62.5 |
| Track, rear (in.) | 61.8 |
| Turning circle (ft.) | 40.0 |
| Legroom, front (in.) | 41.2 |
| Legroom, rear (in.) | 39.9 |
| Headroom, front (in.) | 40.9 |
| Headroom, rear (in.) | 39.2 |
| Shoulder room, front (in.) | 55.8 |
| Shoulder room, rear (in.) | 55.3 |
| Seating capacity | 5 |
| Cargo volume (cu-ft) | 31.4 |
| Max. cargo volume, seats folded (cu-ft) | 63.7 |
| Safety |
|---|
| Front airbags | Standard |
| Side airbags | Standard dual front |
| Head airbags | Standard front and rear |
| Knee airbags | Not available |
| Antilock brakes | 4-wheel ABS |
| Electronic brake enhancements | Braking assist, electronic brakeforce distribution |
| Traction control | Standard |
| Stability control | Standard |
| Rollover protection | Standard |
| Tire-pressure monitoring system | Standard with location display |
| Emergency assistance system | 1 year OnStar Safe and Sound with automatic crash response (subscription thereafter) |
| NHTSA crash test, driver | Not tested |
| NHTSA crash test, passenger | Not tested |
| NHTSA crash test, side front | Not tested |
| NHTSA crash test, side rear | Not tested |
| NHTSA rollover resistance | Not tested |
